Sox run out of gas, lose to O's in 17 innings, 9-6

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BOSTONThe Red Sox and Orioles used a combined 18 pitchers, including a position player each, in their series finale Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.

It was Darnell McDonald who took the loss, giving up a three-run home run to Adam Jones in the 17th, as the Sox fell, 9-6.

The Sox needed nine pitchers, including McDonald, who entered the game as a pinch-runner for David Ortiz in the eighth inning, to get through 17 innings against the Orioles Sunday afternoon.

The loss drops the Sox to 11-16, 4-10 at home, and 1-5 on the homestand.

The Orioles' Chris Davis, who started the game as their DH, pitched two innings for the win. At the plate, Davis went 0-for-8 with five straight strikeouts to start the game.

It was another poor outing by Clay Buccholz that set up the bullpen game. Buchholz lasted just 3 23 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits and four walks with four strikeouts.All the Orioles runs off him came on home runs, including two solo shots by J.J. Hardy, in the first and third, and a three-run shot Sox nemesis Robert Andino in the fourth. It was Buchholzs shortest outing since 3 23 innings on April 9, 2011, in a loss to the Yankees.

The Sox got a run in the fourth when Mike Aviles doubled and scored on Ryan Sweeneys single to right.

They tied the score in the next inning on Will Middlebrooks first career grand slam. It scored David Ortiz and Cody Ross, who singled, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who walked. Middlebrooks blast, over the Monster, came on the first pitch. It was also his first career home run.

The Os went ahead in the eighth, helped by two errors from Saltalamacchia. His error on Adam Jones foul extended the at-bat, allowing Jones to single. With Jones attempting to steal second, Saltalamacchias throwing error allowed him to go to second. Jones scored on Mark Reynolds double off the wall in center.

But Saltalamacchia got some redemption in the bottom of the inning, as the Sox once again tied the score. Ortiz led off with a double to center and was replaced by Darnell McDonald, who went to third on Cody Ross ground out to short. Saltalamacchias sacrifice fly to left scored McDonald.

The Orioles bullpen had gone 23 23 consecutive scoreless innings before that run.

Os starter Tommy Hunter lasted just 4 13 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits, including Middlebrooks grand slam, and a walk with two strikeouts.

Of his six outings, Buchholz has not thrown a quality start yet this season, and has given up five or more earned runs in each.Althoughhe was not involved in the decision, leaving his record at 3-1, his ERA jumped from 8.69 to 9.09.

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